The Del Norte High wrestling team was able to defeat McKinleyville 40-36 at a dual match at home Wednesday evening.

The Warriors also defeated St. Bernards, which brought only three wrestlers. Del Norte won all three matches.

Assistant Coach Clinton Schaad said while the squad was not able to win all the matches the team and coaches had hoped for, it's always good to get the victory.

"We did OK," he said. "It might have ben ugly at times but we got the win. That's the important part."

Del Norte also won a few matches and gained the points because the other team did not have a person to wrestle in that weight class.

Standouts included Joey Kravitz in the 140-pound division, who was able to dispatch opponent Michael Lawrence. Going into the match, the final one of the dual between Del Norte and McKinleyville, the Warriors were down 35-34.

"He showed solid technique," Schaad said. "He looked for the pin."

He said Jake Young also looked good in his win in the 189-pound division.

Roger McCovey did well in his match in the 215-pound division, winning 14-3, although the last time he faced Andrew Miller, he got a technical fall and defeated him by 15 points, Head Coach Dave Bokor said.

While the Warriors did not win all its matches, Schaad said many of those who competed are in their first year wrestling, or underclassmen.

Practice and dual and tournament experience will help them improve, he said.

Bokor said he was pleased with the effort of some of his wrestlers, who did well despite losing their match.

He commended Jennifer Skinner, who wrestled in the 125-pound weight division.

While she lost by 15, he said she never gave up and made sure not to get pinned, which helped when the points were added up.

"That saved us one team point," he said. "That's the type of effort we need from everyone."

Del Norte next wrestles on Saturday at the Arcata Rotary Wrestling tournament.